A MESSAGE FROM VICE PRESIDENT, EDUCATION BOB LEVINE
INSPIRING JEWISH YOUTH
Jewish National Fund
3 JNF.org
For six years I was honored to serve as JNF’s National Campaign Chair. I visited many cities, met thousands of wonderful people, gave many speeches, brought many people to Israel to show our JNF “miracles,” and solicited millions of dollars. It was exciting and I always felt I was contributing to the Zionist dream. And yet, I began to notice a problem: most of the donors had graying hair. Where were the young people? I remembered my youth—going to Hebrew school, the excitement of my bar mitzvah, my membership in a Jewish teenage club, going to a Jewish summer camp, and my involvement in Young Judaea, a Zionist youth movement. It all gave me a strong sense of being part of a “peoplehood.” It seemed that many of our Jewish youth were becoming disaffiliated with the Jewish people and Israel. They were not being inspired by the miracle of the return to our centuries-old Jewish home. So I asked myself, “Why is the bar/bat mitzvah often the end of the Jewish trail?” My life experience as a Jewish youth leader had taught me some answers. Formal Jewish education has generally been geared toward preparing our kids for the bar/bat mitzvah, but not for living an active, purposeful Jewish life. Most of our religious training does not emphasize tikkun olam (repairing the world), protecting the environment, strengthening the peoplehood of Judaism, or actively participating in the restoration of the Jewish people in our ancient homeland. These are all goals which can build a sense of great pride in being Jewish and offer many opportunities for a young person to express positive Jewish values and deeds. JNF’s Israel Advocacy & Education Department is structured to provide valuable tools to the Jewish community to enable the expression of these goals. I was inspired to take on the challenge of Vice President, Education. This B’yachad is filled with articles about our many programs, educational activities, fundraising opportunities for Israel trips such as Plant Your Way to IsraelTM, the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Taglit-Birthright Israel, Positively Israel educational aids, Caravan for Democracy, Alternative Winter/Spring Break, Faculty Fellowship missions, and so much more that JNF offers the community. There is something for every age. We do even more than what’s presented in these pages. We inspire our youth to perform mitzvot like raising funds for the Sderot Indoor Recreation Center and other JNF projects. We co-sponsor the Israeli Dance Institute which runs Israel Folk Dance Festivals, where young people express their Jewish and Zionist feelings through enthusiastic song and dance. There is so much more that is needed to be done. JNF conducts multifaceted programs aimed at all age levels of young people. Our goal is to get kids (and their parents) involved in Jewish life, in loving and visiting the land of Israel, in tikkun olam and in protecting the environment. Through these efforts we are creating opportunities for young people to be proud, productive, and purposeful Jews who will serve as future leaders of the Jewish people. As you read through this issue, think about how you might get involved and help bring these messages to your kids, your synagogue or temple, your children’s school, and your community. If you would like to help promote these activities, contact the Israel Advocacy & Education Department at education@jnf.org and get involved. The goals are worthy, the need is great, and your personal contribution will help ensure our people’s positive future. Today, I can see many people without gray hair. They are inspired youth who want to be part of this journey of realizing JNF’s vision for Israel.